title: The use of chitosan-based scaffolds to enhance regeneration in the nervous system.
abstract: Various biomaterials have been proposed to build up scaffolds for promoting neural repair. Among them, chitosan, a derivative of chitin, has been raising more and more interest among basic and clinical scientists. A number of studies with neuronal and glial cell cultures have shown that this biomaterial has biomimetic properties, which make it a good candidate for developing innovative devices for neural repair. Yet, in vivo experimental studies have shown that chitosan can be successfully used to create scaffolds that promote regeneration both in the central and in the peripheral nervous system. In this review, the relevant literature on the use of chitosan in the nervous tissue, either alone or in combination with other components, is overviewed. Altogether, the promising in vitro and in vivo experimental results make it possible to foresee that time for clinical trials with chitosan-based nerve regeneration-promoting devices is approaching quickly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Neuroscience Institute of the Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Ospedale San Luigi, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnavi
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barwig
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freier
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haastert-Talini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grothe
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Biomedical application; Chitin; Chitosan; Peripheral nerve repair; Spinal cord repair; Tissue engineering